Ridgecrest put out the call for a permanent city manager, signaling the prelude to the courting of potential applicants.

The last city manager, Kurt Wilson, left the position after two years on the job for a deputy city manager position in Stockton in August 2012.

Dennis Speer, the city’s public works director, was appointed interim city manager with a recommendation for a six month period while the city searched for a permanent replacement.

Speer confirmed Thursday that the city manager’s application process would follow the same route used to hire its new finance director.

Instead of using a corporate hiring firm, the city utilized traditional avenues including newspaper advertisements for the position.

“I expect at least as good a response as the finance director position,” Speer said

The position requirements include 10 years of municipal government experience, including six years in a senior management capacity. While a Bachelor’s degree in business administration is required, Speer indicated the city would prefer candidates with a MBA.

Speer said his name would be among the applicants, a contingency based upon initial discussions prior to sending out the hiring notice.

“At that point, the hiring process will be coordinated between the city attorney and the mayor,” Speer said. “I will not be involved in the hiring process.”

During the city council campaign cycle following up to the Nov. 6 general elections, the public consistently asked during public forums whether the city would include the criteria that the candidate was local.

When asked about this Speer said, “Our city attorney has advised that the council have a closed session on how they want to rank or screen the applicants.”

Speer said the exact criteria would remain private, as it falls under personnel decisions made during closed sessions.

When Wilson recommended Speer for the interim position in August, he also recommended a base salary package of $158,000, pro-rated six months.

Speer indicated it was the starting rung for the city manager’s salary, and would change only if the city council made the decision.

“They would have to rearrange their current salary schedule if they wanted to lower or raise that rate,” Speer said.